A day of em-ocean

Depoe Bay’s Fleet of Flowers honors mariners lost at sea

By Eliot Sekuler

For the TODAY

Depoe Bay’s maritime heritage will be colorfully displayed on Monday, May 29, as the city that boasts “the world’s smallest harbor” stages a show of nautical pageantry for its annual Fleet of Flowers memorial event.

It’s a true community effort, organized by volunteers with support from the city and from the US Coast Guard station, which plays an active role in the day’s activities.

Senior Chief Boatswain’s Mate Ryan Clendenen, the officer in charge of the Coast Guard’s Depoe Bay station, explained the Coast Guard’s role in the event and the purpose for its participation.

“Fleet of Flowers was originally organized specifically to recognize the sacrifice of two men who tried to help some other mariners who were in trouble outside of Depoe Bay Harbor,” he said, “and ended up losing their lives in the rescue effort.”

Clendenen was referring to a tragic incident that took place on Sunday, Oct. 4, 1936, when an early autumn storm hit the coastline, bringing high seas and an impenetrable dense fog to the local waters. A small fishing boat, caught in the storm, went missing in the vicinity of Depoe Bay with three crew members aboard. Two Depoe Bay fishermen, Roy Bower and Jack Chambers, set out bravely from Depoe Bay’s harbor in their 30-foot troller on a dangerous rescue mission. Their lifeless bodies were recovered the following day.

Their courage and sacrifice became the stuff of local legend and, a decade later after the close of World War II, the Fleet of Flowers event was organized at Depoe Bay to honor their memory. Over time, the scope of the event was broadened to include remembrance of all seafarers — fishermen, navy, coastguardsmen — who have lost their lives at sea. It has grown to become a signature event for the city.

“It’s the biggest event of the year in Depoe Bay,” said Clendenen, a 20-year Coast Guard veteran who has established strong personal roots in the area. “It’s an opportunity to recognize all the mariners who make a living out there on the sea and also the occasion for the `blessing of the fleet.’ A local pastor will attend the event and, in addition to saying an invocation for the ceremony, he’ll say a prayer for the entire fleet of vessels based in Depoe Bay.”

Clendenen, who is helping to coordinate Coast Guard participation, including a helicopter fly-over and a 21-gun salute, will be among the speakers taking part in the opening ceremony.

Kathy Wyatt, who serves as co-president of the Fleet of Flowers organization, explained the order of the day’s events.

“Those who want to watch the ceremony should head to the docks at the Depoe Bay harbor at 11 am,” she said. “The program at the dock will run for 45 minutes and then people who have tickets will depart for the boats. If you’re not aboard one of the boats, the best place to watch the event will be from the Depoe Bay bridge and the area next to the Whale Watching Center. From there, you’ll be able to see the boats leaving the harbor and forming a circle offshore. A Coast Guard helicopter will arrive and drop the first wreath into the ocean. Then, everybody aboard the boats will throw their wreaths into the ocean.”

Passage aboard the dozen participating boats is managed privately, but some boat tickets may be available from Depoe Bay’s charter companies, Trade Winds or Dockside Charters.

Wyatt emphasized that the Fleet of Flowers event represents the culmination of a year-long effort by her group of volunteers.

“It takes all year to plan and raise the money,” she said. Volunteer opportunities, which include making the memorial wreaths that are tossed from the boats, continue through the week leading up to the event. Volunteers are welcome to assist at the Depoe Bay Community Center on Thursday and Friday, May 25 and 26, from 10 am to 4 pm. Donations are also welcome.

“We’re excited to be able to do the event again, to have the participation of the boat captains and the community,” Wyatt said. “It’s been a great Depoe Bay tradition for all these many years, a time for everybody to gather for a great community event.”

For more information, go to the Fleet of Flowers page on Facebook.